"Hi, everybody! I'm Archie Bell of The Drells, of Houston, Texas!" Archie Bell let the world know exactly who he was as he led his group through the "Tighten Up," his 1968 Pop and R&B chart-topping dance record. He explained to author Fred Bronson that the decision to introduce himself was in response to an unkind remark that "nothing good ever came out of Texas." Bell was determined to prove that the comment was wrong - and prove it, he certainly did. Cherry Red's Robinsongs imprint
RSD Round-Up: Spotlight on Omnivore, Iconoclassic, Friday Music, Dark Horse, Light in the Attic, and More
Our look at this year's Record Store Day releases continues with a look at the lineups from Omnivore Recordings, Iconoclassic Records, Friday Music, Light in the Attic, and more of our favorite labels! All titles here are due on April 20, and all descriptions are taken directly from the labels. If you are interested in any of these titles, they will be available at your local record store on April 20. Head over to recordstoreday.com for a list of participating retailers. U.K. readers, please
Release Round-Up: Week of February 23
Welcome to this week's Release Round-Up, featuring a selection of the new titles available today! As an Amazon affiliate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Davy Jones, The Bell Records Story (7a) CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada LP: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada 7a Records reissues and expands the late Davy Jones' second solo LP, 1971's Davy Jones as part of the artist's The Bell Records Story. The album was in a sunshine pop-meets-bubblegum vein, but it
Everybody Rejoice: Long-Unavailable Luther Vandross Projects Coming to CD, LP, Digital
Legacy Recordings has announced plans to deepen the legend of Luther Vandross with the first-ever expanded reissue of two long-unavailable albums recorded mononymously as Luther in the mid-'70s. Luther (1976) and This Close to You (1977) were originally issued by the Cotillion label but near impossible to find after Vandross finally found solo success in the 1980s, as he bought the rights to both releases back. With 2024 poised to be a big rediscovery year for the late icon - the
Many States of Independence: Demon Unveils RSD List with Donna Summer, Yardbirds, Lulu, Average White Band, More
As the week unfolds, we'll be continuing our ongoing look at this year's massive Record Store Day list. Here is a glance at all of the releases coming from Demon Music Group. All descriptions are taken directly from the label. If you are interested in any of these titles, they will be available at your local record store on April 20. Head over to recordstoreday.com for a list of participating retailers. U.K. readers, please visit recordstoreday.co.uk and Canadian readers, please
The Weekend Stream: February 17, 2024
Welcome to another edition of The Weekend Stream, The Second Disc's review of notable catalogue titles making digital debuts. Today, we celebrate Crowded House's return, an unreleased track from the Godfather of Soul, six albums from a female country hitmaker and many more! Crowded House, "Oh Hi" (BMG) (iTunes / Amazon) One of Second Disc HQ's favorite bands, Crowded House, is back with the first single from Gravity Stairs, their first album since 2021's Dreamers Are Waiting. This gentle,
The Weekend Stream: February 3, 2024
Welcome to another edition of The Weekend Stream, The Second Disc's review of notable catalogue titles making digital debuts. Another vintage Madonna single, rarities from Andy Williams and Cab Calloway, and a comeback we're still processing all await you below... Billy Joel, "Turn the Lights Back On" (Columbia) (iTunes / Amazon) No, we can't believe it either. On Thursday, Billy Joel released only his third original pop song since 1993's River of Dreams. (The last two were in 2007: "All
Release Round-Up: Week of February 2
Welcome to this week's Release Round-Up, featuring a selection of the new titles available today. As an Amazon affiliate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Andy Williams, When You Fall in Love: Lost Columbia Masters 1977-1982 (Real Gone Music) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada) When You Fall in Love: Lost Columbia Masters 1977-1982 rounds up eighteen rarities from the late, great Andy Williams. Over a dozen never-before-heard recordings premiere here which teamed Andy with
The Weekend Stream: January 27, 2024
Welcome to another edition of The Weekend Stream, The Second Disc's review of notable catalogue titles making digital debuts. Anniversary releases from Bon Jovi and Madonna, more INXS remixes, deep dives on Duke Ellington and Doris Day, a new recording from Melissa Manchester and a unique new take on a classic Brazilian vocalist are what you'll enjoy today! Bon Jovi, Bon Jovi (Deluxe Edition) (Mercury/UMe) (iTunes / Amazon) The New Jersey rockers have already teed up a big 2024: frontman
Right Round (Like a Record): Edsel Preps Dead or Alive CD Singles Box
Against all odds, Edsel will release a third deep-dive box set into the career of U.K. hitmakers Dead or Alive - this time focusing on their single mixes. Still Spinnin': The Singles Collection 1983-2021 offers 27 discs of the group's single releases through their entire career, including hits like "Lover Come Back to Me," "Brand New Lover," "My Heart Goes Bang (Get Me to the Doctor)", "Something in My House" - and of course, the international smash "You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)," which
Don't Look Down: Go West Expand 'Dancing on the Couch' with Remixes and Live Material
It was a pleasant surprise to see British '80s duo Go West get a deluxe edition of their debut album last year. Chrysalis is making lightning strike twice early this year for fans with a follow-up: an 3CD/1DVD expansion of the duo's 1987 release Dancing on the Couch. After Peter Cox and Richard Drummie scored a Top 5 hit in their homeland with "We Close Our Eyes" in 1985, they'd amassed a solid fan base who'd be curious to hear what a follow-up sounded like. Working again with producer Gary
The Year In Review: The 2023 Gold Bonus Disc Awards, From A to Z - Part Two
Happy 2024! Welcome, friends, to Part Two of The Second Disc's 14th Annual Gold Bonus Disc Awards! As we yet again look to a new year with optimism and a hopeful spirit, we recognize the many roles music has played in our lives. With that spirit in mind, The Second Disc wishes to recognize 2023's cream of the catalogue music crop - those exemplary reissues and box sets, big and small, that proved to be truly outstanding for music lovers worldwide. After much deliberation, we're excited
The Weekend Stream: January 13, 2024
Welcome to another edition of The Weekend Stream, The Second Disc's review of notable catalogue titles making digital debuts. Our first streaming round-up of the year has surprises from INXS, a '00s U.K. hit going viral, and some '90s alt-rock goodness! INXS, Selections from All Juiced Up Volume 2 (Petrol/Atlantic) "I'm Only Looking" (Morales Bad Yard Mix): iTunes / Amazon "Bitter Tears" (Lorimer 12" Mix): iTunes / Amazon "Need You Tonight" (Liebrand 12" Mix): iTunes / Amazon "Listen
A Second Disc Interview: Mixing It Up with John Luongo
John Luongo is a good liar. Well, maybe he's good at being tongue-in-cheek. "I'm bashful," he says at the start of our interview back in October. "You're gonna have to really drag these things outta me, 'cause I'm a little shy!" What follows is about 100 minutes of captivating stories and thoughtful, enthusiastic lessons from one of the most notable names in dance music. The Boston-born DJ and mix engineer made a name for himself transforming dozens of soul and pop tracks for disco 12"
We Wish You (Another) Merry Discmas!
The stockings are hung, the presents are wrapped, and the time is now to wish all of our readers at The Second Disc a wonderful holiday season before we enter a brief winter hibernation until the new year! 2023 was our 13th year as (we hope!) one of the more fun destinations for music reissues, box sets and catalogue releases. The business has certainly changed a lot in that time - maybe too much vinyl, maybe not enough CDs? - but labels big and small keep finding new, old and interesting
Fascinated: Freestyle Trio Company B's Debut Reissued by Stereo Sonic
Cuban-born American producer Ish Ledesma made a big splash on the Miami music scene, becoming a fixture at Henry Stone's TK Records. Best known for his band Foxy's top ten Pop hit and R&B chart-topper "Get Off," Ledesma was also a prolific session player - Foxy was even enlisted by ABBA on the track for "Voulez-Vous," the Swedish quartet's only studio recording made outside of Sweden - and the creative force behind dance-rock outfit OXO ("Whirly Girl"). In 1986, Ledesma put together the
The Music's Too Sweet Not to Dance: Real Gone Collects Andy Williams' "Lost Columbia Masters 1977-1982"
Turn on any radio station playing Christmas music today, or walk into any department store celebrating the season, and chances are you'll soon hear Andy Williams joyfully extolling "The Most Wonderful Time of the Year." But that all-time Christmas classic is just part of the story of the vocalist's extraordinary career - one which encompassed six Grammy nominations, 43 albums (seventeen Gold and three Platinum), 53 Pop chart entries, and ten years as host of his own Emmy-winning television
The Weekend Stream: December 9, 2023
Welcome to another edition of The Weekend Stream, The Second Disc's review of notable catalogue titles making digital debuts. More Madonna remixes, a trove of rarities from Matt Monro, and two solo albums from an Elton John sideman are all here - plus new EPs from a current Broadway star and a neat new vocal group! Madonna, Love Profusion (The Remixes) (Warner/Rhino) (iTunes / Amazon) A super-sized bundle of mixes to the final single from 2003's American Life is the latest digital archival
Love Will Save the Day: Edsel's "Disco Discharge Presents Box of Sin" Chronicles '80s Gay Club Scene
The Disco Discharge series, dormant for over a decade, has been recently reactivated by Demon Music Group's Edsel label for one of its boldest projects yet. The 5-CD collection Disco Discharge Presents Box of Sin (also available on 4 LPs of highlights) is a journey through the gay club scene of 1980-1989 via 54 full-length or extended tracks from artists both expected and unexpected - including Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston, Donna Summer, Dreamgirls Sheryl Lee Ralph and Jennifer Holliday,
The Weekend Stream: November 18, 2023
Welcome to The Weekend Stream, a relaxing review of notable digital-only catalogue titles. There may be no CD or vinyl, but there's plenty of great new/old music to float you into the weekend. Our pre-Thanksgiving feast includes three legendary women of rock, a summit of country icons, and some unexpected live gems from an alternative '80s outfit - plus so much more. Tina Turner, Tina Turns the Country On! / Acid Queen / Rough / Love Explosion (Parlophone) Country: iTunes / Amazon Acid
Master of 'Dance Masters': An Interview with Reissue Producer Wayne A. Dickson
Wayne A. Dickson knows a thing or two about timing. The Scottish DJ, manager and compilation producer, perhaps best known for a staggering discography of soul and disco reissues for Cherry Red's Big Break Records label, recalled a passion for getting a proper collection of 12" mixes by CHIC and related artists on CD. "It was greenlit something like four times over six years, and then the project manager who'd greenlit it would get let go, and the project would die with it," Dickson recalled
Release Round-Up: Week of November 17
Welcome to this week's Release Round-Up, featuring a selection of the many titles available today in the final "big week" of the holiday release season. We are an Amazon affiliate and earn on qualifying purchases. We're kicking things off with our two Christmas releases from Second Disc Records and Real Gone Music! While Amazon's orders are unfortunately delayed, both of these titles are shipping now from Real Gone's webstore! Arthur Fiedler and The Boston Pops, The Ultimate Pops
Short Takes: Josh Groban Expands "Closer," The Kinks Continue "The Journey," Daft Punk Goes "Drumless"
Today's Short Takes gathers news of three upcoming releases, all of which are currently scheduled for this Friday, November 17. We are an Amazon affiliate and earn on qualifying purchases. Josh Groban, currently packing houses as Sweeney Todd, The Demon Barber of Fleet Street at Broadway's Lunt-Fontanne Theatre, is looking back to his 6x Platinum sophomore album, 2003's Closer, for a new 2CD or 2LP anniversary reissue (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada). Like his self-titled debut,
The Weekend Stream: November 11, 2023
Welcome to The Weekend Stream, a relaxing review of notable digital-only catalogue titles. There may be no CD or vinyl, but there's plenty of great new/old music to float you into the weekend. A very chill weekend shows off the latest in Melissa Manchester's forthcoming new album of favorite classics, a stripped-down Record Store Day rarity from Soul Asylum and another trance treasure from the ZTT vaults. Melissa Manchester, Confide in Me (Green Hill) (iTunes / Amazon) Diana Ross' 1977
The Weekend Stream: November 4, 2023
Welcome to The Weekend Stream, a relaxing review of notable digital-only catalogue titles. There may be no CD or vinyl, but there's plenty of great new/old music to float you into the weekend. We're headed into most wonderful time of the year territory with a few holiday rarities, plus more Madonna remixes, rare live tracks from Portishead and a forgotten link between Jefferson Airplane and Jefferson Starship. Teddy Pendergrass, This Christmas (I'd Rather Have Love) (Craft) (iTunes /
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